*I should never leave on a trip annoyed/angry/whatever with someone ever again. I missed Elysse too much.
*Getting back and sleeping for a solid 48-hours a) does not help alleviate jet lag, and b) scares the crap out of my Grandmother.
*I still don't like hills. The walking thing didn't last long. I'm blaming the humidity, but I'm pretty sure that's just an excuse.
*I really could probably get away with taking the small green suitcase and the carry-on. Maybe. For week-long trips, definitely.
*I still hate sharing.
*I'm still a control freak, but I'm loosening up a little. I'll work on this to procrastinate on working on the walking.
*I loved Florence. So much. Just not the mosquitoes. No. Don't miss those one bit.
*Art is so much better in person. Judith. Had. Bloodstains. On. Her. Dress. My life is complete.
*I told Stephanie about the Jews being saved in Assisi. Her eyes lit up. At least I have one person to share my Holocaust information with. We're discussing wanting to teach a course on Holocaust art and literature if/when we're both teaching. I'm excited.
*I'm better at my job now, after having a break.
*Note to self: Overdrawing your checking account while in a different country is not fun. Remember this. Be unamused.
*I seem to have realized something. I don't need a home. I don't need someplace to go back to. Having a place to rest my head is nice, yes, but everywhere can be my home. I feel like some of the parts of me that were empty are less empty or full when I come back from an elsewhere.
*Can one have a religion based on art? I've had my most purely religious experiences in the presence of great art or architecture. ...I wonder how many people have confused St. Peter's as a religious experience related to the church? Hm.
*I have a love-hate relationship with my "culture bubble." Yes, I like being understood and understanding. Yes, I like dressing how I want. No, I don't like how Americans get viewed sometimes ...and I think part of that is that we tend to stick to our culture bubbles. We have customers at Teavana that are visiting from France (a lot more than you'd think), and they conduct business here in (sometimes broken) English. It would only seem polite that we do that same in another country with their native language. I'm guilty of it too. I like English. I like speaking it. I like that it's weird sometimes. I like it. I like French, Italian, Polish and German too - the pieces I know, at least. I get nervous around native speakers - it happened in reverse in Germany with Alex's friends. They were nervous about speaking English to me because I was a native speaker. That was a fun evening. I got used to little things in Italy - please, thank you, yes; that sort of thing. I also became the default person to ask for the check at dinner. I was amused. I was so used to things like that, that I kept speaking of it when I got home.
*I want to go again. I feel like the more I travel, the more I want to travel. And not just to new places. To the places I've been already been, because the more I'm away, the more I learn about being in an elsewhere, and I feel like I could appreciate things so much more after learning these things.
*I just realized, I never really talked about the flights. Well. I don't really remember much of them. I get into a sort of ...travel stupor, almost? The plane obviously didn't crash, so I guess there really wasn't much to say. O'Hare was ...O'Hare. We did get delayed about 2 hours on the way back. Not the most amusing thing in the world. I ended up doing a lot of watching other people's bags. Laziness, maybe, I prefer "economy of movement" - efficiency, and as little movement as possible.
*I have some ideas. Creative inspiration. Particularly, the bell tower from Assisi will be in the background of Icarus if/when he ever gets finished. There was a suggestion of welding myself in place of Judith with a head. I ...don't really feel the desire to cut anyone's head off. There is a strength in small actions, in carrying on, that doesn't always show when some people are cutting people's heads off. I don't really ever want to be a heroine. The maidservant, maybe, or the basket, but never the heroine. But I have a plan for Judith. I really hope Lynda does the metal pour again. Three words: Bronze. Abstract. Judith. Witness my excitement. I've started the Styrofoam already. Something with chain links, and webs too. Not sure where that one is going.
*Okay, I've been home for a month, when do we leave?
Friday, July 9, 2010
06/04/2010 Italy, Day 12
Beach! Opera! Food!
I'm not usually big on the sun. The sun and I don't usually have a very good relationship. Or a relationship at all beyond "burny-burny-ow-ow-ow." But it was the freaking Mediterranean. We took the Metro and the train, but we got there and it was gorgeous. Just laying there on the beach was nice. Came back a little early with Ashley and Lyda since Ashley pointed out I burned (was totally worth it though). I now have a sunburn in the shape of wings on my back. I'm pretty sure Elysse would get a kick out of it. Teehee.
We got back, and Casey and I both braved the slightly moldy shower (separately, of course) and we headed out to the Opera evening. It was nice, but I still think our first evening of Opera was better. More ...at home, as opposed to a tourist-y-show-type-thing. We saw some of Rome lit up after the Opera, which was nice, and there was silliness on the bus, which was both amusing and ridiculous.
More packing now, and BED. Tomorrow we leave!
I'm not usually big on the sun. The sun and I don't usually have a very good relationship. Or a relationship at all beyond "burny-burny-ow-ow-ow." But it was the freaking Mediterranean. We took the Metro and the train, but we got there and it was gorgeous. Just laying there on the beach was nice. Came back a little early with Ashley and Lyda since Ashley pointed out I burned (was totally worth it though). I now have a sunburn in the shape of wings on my back. I'm pretty sure Elysse would get a kick out of it. Teehee.
We got back, and Casey and I both braved the slightly moldy shower (separately, of course) and we headed out to the Opera evening. It was nice, but I still think our first evening of Opera was better. More ...at home, as opposed to a tourist-y-show-type-thing. We saw some of Rome lit up after the Opera, which was nice, and there was silliness on the bus, which was both amusing and ridiculous.
More packing now, and BED. Tomorrow we leave!
06/03/2010 Italy, Day 11
Went back to the Capuchin crypts with a larger group this time. Almost nicer being in a larger group ...less need to be interesting, less interpersonal contact, but then there's the culture bubble problem.
What's the use of going to another country and not experiencing the culture? That's one of the reasons I want to go back to Germany. Dresden was lovely, but having an English-speaking host didn't force me to be more comfortable with my tiny bits of German. Same thing happened here.
I'm not sure where everyone else headed after the crypts, but I tried to head up to the Borghese. That didn't work out so well, since I wasn't overly sure of myself. I think I just need to go somewhere on a plane, have a map, and just ...go. No planning, nothing. ...Just the thought of that terrifies me. Which means I have to do it now. Damn it.
I ended up spending some time on the metro - back and forth, back and forth. I got to pretend I wasn't completely a tourist then, though I think the flip-flops gave me away. My space bubble seems to decrease when I'm in Europe. Happened in Ireland too, though it took longer that time. Hm.
I napped when I got back. I was still pretty exhausted. More bedtime now though!
What's the use of going to another country and not experiencing the culture? That's one of the reasons I want to go back to Germany. Dresden was lovely, but having an English-speaking host didn't force me to be more comfortable with my tiny bits of German. Same thing happened here.
I'm not sure where everyone else headed after the crypts, but I tried to head up to the Borghese. That didn't work out so well, since I wasn't overly sure of myself. I think I just need to go somewhere on a plane, have a map, and just ...go. No planning, nothing. ...Just the thought of that terrifies me. Which means I have to do it now. Damn it.
I ended up spending some time on the metro - back and forth, back and forth. I got to pretend I wasn't completely a tourist then, though I think the flip-flops gave me away. My space bubble seems to decrease when I'm in Europe. Happened in Ireland too, though it took longer that time. Hm.
I napped when I got back. I was still pretty exhausted. More bedtime now though!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
06/02/2010 Italy, Day 10
Free day today ...though it didn't really feel like it. Nancy took a group up to ...uh, I don't remember what it's called, some place of reflection or some such for followers of St. Francis. We went through a building before going out on the paths. It has been determined that there have been no tall monks, or fat monks. In that structure: tiny doors! [] <- normal, O <- cramped, n <- "are you serious?" The woman behind me (not part of the group) was a little heavier set, and we just looked at each other and laughed. But we both got through. I must credit gallery work for that one - learning to move unobtrusively was one of the most valuable lessons I learned there. Next we headed to the church which originally housed the cross that spoke to St. Francis (now in the side chapel of the Basilica of St. Chiara, I believe). I was so happy we took a taxi. I don't know what it is, but I have zero energy here in Assisi. I really should keep up the walking when I get home, though. Pick'n'Save isn't any farther than I walked in Florence, I just have to suck it up and do it.
Anyway. We also has a musical to attend this evening: "Chiara di Dio" which was at times frightening, at times hilarious, at times confusing, and at times actually interesting. Mostly the first two though. It may have partly been the language barrier (though I'm still pretty good at context clues), but monks with flashlights are just my least favorite thing.
As odd as it was at times, it was pretty on par with say, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" or "Godspell" as far drama or ...theatricalness. Theatricalness - is that even a word? Doubtful.
After that, Ashley, Casey, Lyda, Kelli, Mandy and I had dinner at a little place that looked like it was housed in old wine cellars. Ashley made a Poe reference (to The Cask of Amontillado), liked her more for it. It averaged out to about €10/plate, which after some of our meals, seems super cheap.
Travel day to Rome tomorrow. My suitcase is still pretty neatly packed, luckily, and Lucias is charging. Sleep for me now. Huzzah.
Anyway. We also has a musical to attend this evening: "Chiara di Dio" which was at times frightening, at times hilarious, at times confusing, and at times actually interesting. Mostly the first two though. It may have partly been the language barrier (though I'm still pretty good at context clues), but monks with flashlights are just my least favorite thing.
As odd as it was at times, it was pretty on par with say, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" or "Godspell" as far drama or ...theatricalness. Theatricalness - is that even a word? Doubtful.
After that, Ashley, Casey, Lyda, Kelli, Mandy and I had dinner at a little place that looked like it was housed in old wine cellars. Ashley made a Poe reference (to The Cask of Amontillado), liked her more for it. It averaged out to about €10/plate, which after some of our meals, seems super cheap.
Travel day to Rome tomorrow. My suitcase is still pretty neatly packed, luckily, and Lucias is charging. Sleep for me now. Huzzah.
06/01/2010 Italy, Day 9
The 1st of June. 11 days until my birthday.
Walking tour of Assisi today. I ...dislike hills quite a lot. We saw the Basilica of St. Francis and the Church of St. Clare. It was surprising to see the very large amount of money that was put into a church of St. Francis, but as our guide said, the church itself was in fact for the Pope. The bit about the Jewish population of Assisi being saved by hiding in a false floor/ceiling during World War II was also quite interesting. Will have to look that up ...and tell Stephanie too. Oh, I miss her too. I miss my life. Two weeks isn't long enough to find a new way of life. It feels like a weird form of limbo. For a year, I could do it, but two weeks is odd.
Back to today. Also discovered through the tour guide that some churches were white-washed and turned into hospitals . I wonder how many frescoes are hidden because of that?
After the tour, Nancy took some people up to La Rocca. I tried, but that failed miserably. Too many hills for me.
Time for bed now, and I have a headache.
Walking tour of Assisi today. I ...dislike hills quite a lot. We saw the Basilica of St. Francis and the Church of St. Clare. It was surprising to see the very large amount of money that was put into a church of St. Francis, but as our guide said, the church itself was in fact for the Pope. The bit about the Jewish population of Assisi being saved by hiding in a false floor/ceiling during World War II was also quite interesting. Will have to look that up ...and tell Stephanie too. Oh, I miss her too. I miss my life. Two weeks isn't long enough to find a new way of life. It feels like a weird form of limbo. For a year, I could do it, but two weeks is odd.
Back to today. Also discovered through the tour guide that some churches were white-washed and turned into hospitals . I wonder how many frescoes are hidden because of that?
After the tour, Nancy took some people up to La Rocca. I tried, but that failed miserably. Too many hills for me.
Time for bed now, and I have a headache.
05/31/2010 Italy, Day 8
Mostly a travel day today. I was quite sad to leave Florence. I really think I could do it for a year. My only fear would be if I'd ever leave, though, as far as fears go, that one's not too terrible.
Had tea during breakfast - can't wait to get home to real tea. Bagged just isn't as good anymore, but I felt a little more like a person.
After we'd all packed up into the [new] bus, we were off to Assisi ...or so we thought. Gabriella, or ..."tour manager," had a surprise for us: The Basilica of San Miniato al Monte. While the basilica itself was lovely - especially the glittering mosaic over what I assume is the main entrance - the view if Florence was absolutely incredible.
Then on to Assisi we went. We arrived around 2:00-ish in the afternoon...
Things I Am Sick Of:
*bug bites
*looking like I have the plague from the above mentioned bites
*interpersonal politics
*apparently being a bad person because I don't want to pay half of the €60 to switch to a room "with a view"
Whatever. I don't intend to spend that much time in this room anyway. I'm now rooming with Lyda. Casey and I apparently "made up," but I still don't appreciate being treated like a child and having choice removed from me.
Sigh. It's only times like this that I miss home. And Heather. I feel like I'm missing my other half.
Dinner was good, so was the rediculous gelato trip with Steph, Sammy Jo, Kelli, Mandy and Lyda.
Walking tour of Assisi tomorrow and bedtime for me.
Had tea during breakfast - can't wait to get home to real tea. Bagged just isn't as good anymore, but I felt a little more like a person.
After we'd all packed up into the [new] bus, we were off to Assisi ...or so we thought. Gabriella, or ..."tour manager," had a surprise for us: The Basilica of San Miniato al Monte. While the basilica itself was lovely - especially the glittering mosaic over what I assume is the main entrance - the view if Florence was absolutely incredible.
Then on to Assisi we went. We arrived around 2:00-ish in the afternoon...
Things I Am Sick Of:
*bug bites
*looking like I have the plague from the above mentioned bites
*interpersonal politics
*apparently being a bad person because I don't want to pay half of the €60 to switch to a room "with a view"
Whatever. I don't intend to spend that much time in this room anyway. I'm now rooming with Lyda. Casey and I apparently "made up," but I still don't appreciate being treated like a child and having choice removed from me.
Sigh. It's only times like this that I miss home. And Heather. I feel like I'm missing my other half.
Dinner was good, so was the rediculous gelato trip with Steph, Sammy Jo, Kelli, Mandy and Lyda.
Walking tour of Assisi tomorrow and bedtime for me.
05/30/2010 Italy, Day 7
Best. Day. Of. My. Life.
ARTEMISIA.
ARTEMISIA.
ARTEMISIA.
...And Titian's, and Da Vinci's, and Caravaggio's and portrait miniatures!
I think my heart may have stopped several times at the Uffizi. So much art, so little time. Oh! Found a new artist to look into: Andrea del Sarto. The painting of a "Lady Reading Petrarch" reminds me of Raphael's women - oh the soul in those eyes! Was surprised Caravaggio's "Medusa" is on a shield - he just keeps me on my toes like no other.
I was very happy to see both the "Madonna of the Goldfinch" (my favorite Madonna ever) and the "Madonna of the Long Neck" (weird baby not withstanding).
When it came to the end of the galleries and time for the Caravaggio exhibit, there they were: The Artemisia's. A whole section of hall for them. I couldn't breathe. They were better than every Raphael I've seen combined. I cried enough that one of the guards asked if I was okay. I apparently managed to convey "Yes, of course, Sir, this is only the best day of my life" with a single mute nod.
The, luckily, two hour wait was worth every second.
Judith has blood stains on her shirt that I never noticed. (:))
Time for bed - Assisi tomorrow!
ARTEMISIA.
ARTEMISIA.
ARTEMISIA.
...And Titian's, and Da Vinci's, and Caravaggio's and portrait miniatures!
I think my heart may have stopped several times at the Uffizi. So much art, so little time. Oh! Found a new artist to look into: Andrea del Sarto. The painting of a "Lady Reading Petrarch" reminds me of Raphael's women - oh the soul in those eyes! Was surprised Caravaggio's "Medusa" is on a shield - he just keeps me on my toes like no other.
I was very happy to see both the "Madonna of the Goldfinch" (my favorite Madonna ever) and the "Madonna of the Long Neck" (weird baby not withstanding).
When it came to the end of the galleries and time for the Caravaggio exhibit, there they were: The Artemisia's. A whole section of hall for them. I couldn't breathe. They were better than every Raphael I've seen combined. I cried enough that one of the guards asked if I was okay. I apparently managed to convey "Yes, of course, Sir, this is only the best day of my life" with a single mute nod.
The, luckily, two hour wait was worth every second.
Judith has blood stains on her shirt that I never noticed. (:))
Time for bed - Assisi tomorrow!
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